Texas
Texas suits travelers who want big cities, Texas barbecue, live music in Austin and long drives between regions. Plan around one or two regions, since the state is large.
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Texas is in the south-central United States and borders Mexico. It is the second-largest state by area and by population, so distances are long and most trips focus on one or two regions. Dallas and Fort Worth sit in the north, Austin and San Antonio in the central part of the state near the Hill Country, Houston on the Gulf Coast, and El Paso in the far west on the Rio Grande.
Visitors come for Tex-Mex and Texas barbecue, live music in Austin, the Alamo in San Antonio, the stockyards and cowboy culture in Fort Worth, and the space history at Houston's Johnson Space Center. The state also has the Big Bend country in the southwest, ranch land and Gulf beaches. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons for city walking and outdoor plans, since summers are very hot across much of the state. Allow four or five days for one city and a nearby region, and a week or more for a trip that covers several cities.
Texas in five
- Get an ESTA before you flyMost visitors from visa-waiver countries need an ESTA, filled in online before the flight. Passports not on the list need a visa from a US embassy or consulate.Visas and entry
- Rent a car and check the toll setupDallas to Houston is about 240 miles, and Austin to San Antonio is about 80. Many Texas toll roads bill by plate, so ask the rental desk how tolls are charged.Getting around
- Tip 15 to 20 percent at restaurantsServers depend on tips, so leave 15 to 20 percent of the bill. Tip bartenders and taxi drivers too.
- Carry water and walk early in summerSummer afternoons are very hot across much of Texas. Walk outdoors in the morning and carry water with you.
- Download offline maps before the driveSignal drops on some rural highways between cities. Save the routes and city maps offline before you leave Dallas, Austin, Houston or San Antonio.Phones and eSIM
Neighborhoods
Dallas
- Best for: Museums, business trips
- Price band: $$$
- Dallas Museum of Art is in the Arts District
- Klyde Warren Park is built over a freeway
- DART rail links to Uptown and Deep Ellum
Skip if you want a base close to Houston or Austin.
Houston
- Best for: Museums, food, a second stay
- Price band: $$
- The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is in the district
- Hermann Park is next to the Museum District
- Rice Village has shops and restaurants
Skip if you want to walk to downtown Houston nightlife.
San Antonio
- Best for: First visits, evenings
- Price band: $$
- The River Walk runs below street level
- The Alamo is a short walk from the river
- Market Square is a few blocks from the river
Skip if you need a car for most of your days.
Austin
A Texas capital with a strong live music scene, long barbecue lines and the spring-fed Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park.
Things to do in Texas
See all attractions in Texas
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Entry
- Visa Waiver (ESTA) for many passports; visa for others Read more
- Emergency
- 911 police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Expected: 15 to 20 percent in restaurants
- Time
- Central time, UTC-6 (UTC-5 in summer); El Paso on Mountain time, UTC-7 (UTC-6 in summer)
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryMild, cool snaps
- FebruaryCool, mild
- MarchBluebonnets, mild
- AprilSpring, mild
- MayWarm, rising
- JuneHot, humid
- JulyVery hot
- AugustHottest
- SeptemberStorm season
- OctoberClear, mild
- NovemberMild, cooler
- DecemberHoliday lights
Right now in Texas
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
24
- Feels like
- 21°
- Humidity
- 75%
- Wind
- 31 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 52%
Texas
02:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today24°18°52%Monday: Rain. High 24°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 52%.
- Tue21°13°49%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 49%.
- Wed22°12°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu26°13°1%Thursday: Clear. High 26°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Fri22°12°1%Friday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Sat27°13°11%Saturday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 11%.
Updated 10:56 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Fort Worthabout 45 min by car from DallasThe Stockyards and the museum district make a full day.Read the guide
- San Antonioabout 1 hour 20 min by car from AustinThe River Walk and the Alamo, reached by highway.Read the guide
- Austinabout 1 hour 20 min by car from San AntonioThe Capitol, Lady Bird Lake and live music on Sixth Street.Read the guide
Before you go to Texas
Rules for Texas, checked
- Visa-waiver visitors need an ESTA before flying to the United States. Apply on the official CBP site, and check travel.state.gov for other passports.Source
- Declare food, plants and large sums of cash at US customs.
- The legal drinking age is 21, and bars and shops check photo ID. Carry your passport or another photo ID.
Plan around Texas
Driving, city transit and the long drives between cities.
Read the guideMoney and costsUS dollars, card use, tipping and sales tax.
Read the guideVisas and entryESTA, visas and what to expect at US border control.
Read the guideWhere to stayBases in Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio.
Read the guideDallasMuseums, the Arts District and Fort Worth nearby.
Read the guideSan AntonioThe Alamo, the River Walk and the Mission trail.
Read the guideTexas FAQ
How many days do you need in Texas?
Four to five days covers two cities, such as Austin and San Antonio, with time for the drive between them. Dallas and Houston are about four hours apart by car, so pairing them takes a longer trip.
Is Dallas or Houston better for a first trip?
Dallas, if you want the Arts District and day trips to Fort Worth. Houston, if you want Space Center Houston and the Museum District.
Do I need a car in Texas?
For most trips, yes. Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio all have public transit, but the sights are spread out and the cities are hours apart by road.
Is Austin worth visiting?
Yes, for live music on Sixth Street, the Texas State Capitol and Lady Bird Lake. Two nights covers the core, and a third adds time for a Hill Country day trip.
How far is Houston from Austin?
About 165 miles, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours by car on the highway.
Is Texas too hot to visit in summer?
It is very hot from June to September. Plan outdoor sights for early morning, and keep afternoons for museums and shopping.